FR2642318A1 - Game area - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat and horizontal game area covered with a smooth material, on which the players can move, which is delimited by buffer bands (cushions) made from elastic material, equipped with holes on the ground opening out outside the play area, with notches on the buffer bands (cushions) adjacent to the holes in the ground, and with channels outside the play area for receiving the bowls with which the game is played when these fall into the holes.

Description

PLAY AREA
The present invention relates to a flat play area, of any geometry coated with wood, plastic, carpet or other smooth material, on which the players can evolve1 delimited by buffer strips; made of rubber or other elastic material, provided with holes adjacent to the buffer strips, the dimensions of which are adapted to receive the balls with which the game will take place, and which lead to channels located inside the buffer strips.

 The stop bands are provided with indentations where there are holes in the ground.

 The holes in the ground, as well as the notches in the buffer strips, can be plugged so as to restore a play area without holes in the ground, or notches in the buffer strips, the plugs on the buffer strips being made with the same elastic material than that of the bands.

 At the present time there are play areas provided for bowls, from the simple pétanque bowling grounds; aua: more sophisticated bowling areas, but they are not equipped with elastic bands which can return the balls of the game at about the same speed with which they arrive there.

 There are also "billiards" games, which are provided with elastic bands, but they are table games, not play areas on which players can play.

The invention is described below in more detail, and illustrated on the accompanying plans in which
- Figure 1 shows a top view of a rectangular play area, iû meters by 5 meters, with the playing surface (1) delimited by the buffer strips (?) They merles fixed on a wooden support () , metal, concrete, or other rigid material.

The playing surface has holes (5) in the middle of the long sides, and holes (6) in the four corners.

On each of the long sides, a channel (4) is provided in the ground to receive and store the balls which will fall into the holes (5) and (6).

 - Figure 2 shows the section (A) of the playing area, at the location of a hole (5), with the conduit (7) which opens onto the channel (4).

 - Figure r represents the section (B) on one side of the playing area at a place where there is no hole.

 FIG. 4 represents the top view of the stop strip (2) and of its support (.s) at the location of a hole (s), with its elastic plug (8) This plug is held in place, when we want to close the notch.

by a bolt (12) fitted with a handle, which is screwed onto a captive nut, or insert (1), which is located on the elastic plug.

 - Figure 5 shows the section of Ligure 4 in the center of 1 notch in the buffer strip.

 - Figure (6) shows the top view of a notch in the buffer strip (2) above a hole (6)! with its elastic plug (9) held in place by the two bolts (12).

 For the two types of holes (5) and (6) it is useless, in the model presented here1 to plug the holes on the ground; because when the plugs are in place on the notches of the buffer strips, the balls with which the game takes place butt on the strips before their point of contact on the ground can reach the holes

Claims (4)

 1- Flat playing area, covered with wood, plastic, carpet, fabric or other smooth material, on which the players play, characterized in that the playing surface (1) is delimited by elastic stop bands (2), which return the balls with which the game will take place at about the same speed with which they come up against them.  Playground, according to claim i, characterized in the presence, on the ground, of holes (5) and (6) adjacent to the buffer strips, and leading to the outside of the play area.  Playground, according to claim 2, characterized in the presence of notches in the stop bands located above the holes (5) and (bst and allowing balls to fall into said holes.  4- gauging area, according to claim C1, characterized in that plugs (8) and (9), of the same elasticity as that of the strips, are available for closing the notches object of claim 3, so as to restore, if desired, a play area without indentations in the buffer strips.  5- Playground, according to 1 any one of the preceding claims, characterized in the presence of riooles or storage ones (4) outside of the buffer strips to which the holes (5) and (6) open.  6- Playground, according to claim 1, characterized in the presence of indentations on the stop strips (2> which open directly outside the playing surface (i), on riqoles or storage areas (4).